Internal combustion engine



June 20, 1933. 1.. M. WOLF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Aug. 28.1929 Patented June 20, 1933 LESLIE MILTQN WQLE OF LOS ANGELES,CALIFORNIA INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Application filed August 28, 1929.Serial No. 388,968.

This invention relates to gas engines, and

more particularly to internal combustion engines of the reciprocatorytype in which a charge of fuel, whether a gas or a vaporized liquid, isemployed and compressed and fired for the purpose of generating poweragainst reciprocation of pistons. I In the construction of most internalcombustion engines there is provided a timing means for timing thereciprocation of istons in relation to the opening of the inta e andexhaust valves so as to compress in the cylinders the charge of fuel tobe tired and to cause the maximum compression of fuel to take placeprior to the piston passing dead center and firing the charge in thefiring chamber before the piston has reached the dead center position sothat there is a back pressure created against the pistonin a directionto resist the forward propulsion of the piston resulting in a loss ofpower due to the back pressure created against the piston in a reversedirection. in other types of internal combustion engines the charge offuel is fired when the piston has reached practically a dead centerposition so that there is no opportunity for the power generated to acton the crank arm connecting the piston with the crank shaft to transmitthe power thus generated to the crank shaft.

it is an object of this invention to provide an internal combustionengine having timing means so interrelated with the action of the pistonas to cause the maximum compression of fuel todtake place at a'pointbeyond dead center of the piston and to cause the fuel thus compressedto be fired at a point materially beyond dead center so that as the fuelis fired the power generated will have a material crank arm againstwhich to exert its pressure to transmit the power generated to the crankshaft.

Another object of this invention is to provide a form of piston valveand compressor member adapted to be actuated for the purpose ofproviding a valve to admit a charge of fuel into the firing chamber ofan'internal combustion engine and also adapted to be actuated for'thepurpose of compressing the fuel in the firing chamber.,

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will beapparent from the'following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a fragment of an internalcombustion engine em bodying this invention illustrating the parts infiring or maximum compression position.

Figure 2 is a like sectional elevation iilustrating the parts in exhaustposition.

Figure 3 is a like sectional elevation illustrating the parts inposition to admit a charge of fuel into the compression chamber.

Figure 4. is a iike sectional elevation in the modified form of aninternal combustion engine embodying my invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a third modification of myinvention. W Figure 6 is a fragmental sectional view illustrating meansfor adjustably supporting the actuating means for the upper piston of aninternal combustion engine embodying my invention. ?5

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 m3 inclusive,1 indicates a cylinder in which there is mounted the customary piston 2of any suitable or desirable construction. The piston 2 is connected bya connecting rod 3 with the crank arm 4 of the crank shaft 5. A secondpiston 6 is mounted to reciprocate within an upper cylinder 7. Thepiston b is connected by means of a connecting rod 8 with a lever 9. Thelever 9 is pivotally mounted at 10 and is 'pivotally connected with thecrank rod 8 at 11. The lever 9 is pivotally connected to a rod 12 uponwhich a compression spring 13 is mounted. The washer 14, secured to therod 12, provides a stop for the spring 13 at one end, and an adjustablestop plate 15 mounted within a horizontal extension 16 of the cylinder 7provides a stop for the opposed end of the spring 13. An adjustmentscrew 17, which is screw-threaded into the shell of the cylinder 7 asindicated at 18, is provided for adjusting the position of the stopplate 15. A look nut 19 is provided to lock the screw 17 in adjustedposition.

crank arm 4 reaches its lower In order to actuate the piston 6 so as tocause the piston 6 to act as a valve to open an intake port formed inthe cylinder 7 to admit a charge of fuel into the compression chamber21, and also to cause the piston 6 to act as a compression piston tocompress the charge of fuel in the compression chamber 21, there isprovided a cam shaft 22 which is driven from the crank shaft in anysuitable or desirable manner, as is well understood in the art, and isdriven from the crank shaft at one-half the speed of revolution of thecrank shaft, and mounted on the cam shaft 22 is a cam 23 which engagesthe lever 9 to force the lever 9 into the position indicated in Figure 1against the force created by the spring 13. The spring 13 normally actsto force the lever 9 into position to raise the piston 6 in the cylinder7 to open the intake port 20. An exhaust. valve 24 is provided, whichmay be of the tappet type as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, or maytake some other form, as illustrated in the modified forms of myinvention.

Means are provided for firing the charge in the compression'chamber 21,which means are herein illustrated as including ordinary spark plugs 25connected with any suitable or desirable source of electrical energy.The plug 25 is screw-threaded into position in the firing chamber 21. Incase this invention is adapted in a Diesel type engine, the firing meansmay be omitted by raising the compression.

The fuel intake pipe 26 is secured into po-' sition by means of cascrews 27 and 28 and is of novel form, being constructed merely as afragment of a complete circle in crosssection, and is secured to thewall of the cylinder 7 and to the horizontal extension 29 thereof.

In operation the engineembodying my invention takes in its charge offuel when the ,upper piston 6 reaches the position indicated in Figure3, and when the lower piston 2 is descending so that the charge of fuelis drawn into the engine under the suction created.

The suction stroke of the engine begins when the piston 2 has descendedin' the cylinder 1 to a position where the crank arm 4 is approximatelyadvanced from its dead center position, and continues until the deadcenter position. During this suction stroke the piston 6 has been raisedto uncover thi; ,intake port 20 and remains in that position for theentire suction stroke, as is determined by the cam 23. As soon as thecrank arm 4 reaches its lower dead center position, the cam 23 actuatesthe lever 9 to move the lever 9 against the force of. the spring 13 andcause the piston 6to descend in its cylinder 7. During this same timethe piston 2 is raising upwardly in the cylinder 1. The two. approachingpistons 2 and 6 reach the position where'the cylinder which is securedto a shaft 22".

firing chamber 21 has been reduced to a minimum volume when the crankarm 4 has passed dead center approximately 45. At this point the chargeis fired in the firing chamber 21 and the fired charge is allowed toexpand until the crank arm 4 reaches its lower dead center position..During this time the upper piston 6 is raised and the crank arm 4 is atthe lower dead center position, the exhaust valve 24 is o ened and thecharge is allowed to exhaust rom the engine and is forced from theengine by the upward movement of the piston 2 in the cylinder 1. Theexhaust continues until the crank arm has again reached the upwardvertical dead center position, when the exhaust valve 24 is closed andthe cycle of the operation is repeated.

In the modified form of my invention illustrated in Figure 4, like partsare designated bylike numerals with the addition of an exponent a. Thismodification of my invention is entirely similar to that shown inFigures 1 to 3 inclusive, except that in this modification the upperpiston 6 and closes the exhaust port 30 formed in the 7 and acts as theexhaust valve as well as the intake valve and the means for alternatelyopens compressing the fuel in the firing chamber 21*. In thismodification of my invention a slightly different means are employed forthe purpose of actuating the upper piston 6" and the cam shaft 22 issituated in a different position. The cam shaft 22 in this modificationis located near the crank case of the engine and, is provided with anirregularly shaped cam 23 which engages a cam follower 31'. The camfollower 31 is at its upper end pivotally connected with a rocker arm32', and the rocker arm 32 is in turn fulcrumed by a pivot 33 and ispivotally connected at its opposite end with the connecting rod 8 of theupper piston 6. A spring 13 is mounted upon the cam follower 31 andnormally acts to urge the piston 6 into highest position.

In the gnodification of this invention illustrated in Figure, 5, similarparts are desig nated by similar numerals with the addition of anexponent b. r

, In this modification of my invention a true harmonic action isprovided for the upper piston 6 in that the connecting rod 8 ofthe upperpiston is'secured to an eccentric 35 In this modification of myinvention, the upper piston 6 is caused ravel through a true harmoniccycle and lows substantially the cycle of operation 'd of thisinvention, except that when follow ing a true harmonic cycle the exacttime of the modification of Figures 1 to 3' can not be obtained.

In Figure 61 have illustrated a means for adjusting the position of theshaft 10 upon which the lever 9 is rotatablysupported in order to vary.the positionof the upper piston,

cribed for the first modification.

- chamber. In varying 6 in the upper cylinder 7. This means is providedfor the purpose of varying theratio of compression of the fuel in thecompression the ratio of compression, the engine may be adapted todifferent conditions of altitude or for the use of different fuels.

In order to permit this adjustment of the position of the shaft 10, andhence the relative positions of the pistons 6 and the cylinder the shaft10 is journalled in an eccentric bushing 40 upon which the bearingcollar 41 of the lever 9 is journaled.

If there is more than one cylinder in the engine, there will preferablybe provided an eccentric bushing 40 for connecting the lever 9 rotatablywith the shaft 10 for each cylinder.

In'order to adjust the position of the eccentric bushing 40, and henceof the piston 6 and the cylinder 7, while the engine is in operation theshaft 10 is provided with a pinion 42 adapted to mesh with a worm gear43'carried on a shaft 44. The shaft 44 extends forward to a the operatorof the engine such, for example, as either in the cockpit of anaeroplane or into the drivers com artment of a motor vep second pistonin nition means, an exhaust means and an inlet means, apistonreciprocally mounted in said cylinder, a crank shaft having acrank arm, a connecting rod connecting said piston to said crank arm, asecond piston reciprocally mounted'in said cylinder in opposed relationto said first p ston, sitioned directly back of said second piston andrigidly secured-to said cylinder, means for operatively supporting andmovirn; said an articulated member consisting of tw'osections pivotallyconnected together atone end" and pivotally connected to said secondpiston and; to said supporting member at their re- I speetive oppositesaid second piston is transmitted ends, means for straightenmg saidarticulated member and maintaining it injstraight position between saidsecond pistonand said supporting member to move and maintain said secondpiston toward said first piston during the working stroke of saidpiston, whereby outward force exerted .on directly through saidarticulated member. to said suppoint of accessibility for a supportingmember po-' porting, member, and means for bending said articulatedmember at the jomt'between said two sections (luring another phase ofoperation of said eng' to move said second piston away from said distpiston.

Signed at Los Angeles, California, this 13th day of August 1929.

L. MILTON WOLF.

said cylinder comprising

